English Language GCSE

English Language (GCSE)

ENGLISH

GCSE (AQA)

Campus: Cheadle and Marple
(30.07.09)

Course overview

We follow the AQA (Mature) syllabus which is designed for students aged 16+ taking the exam after one year. You may have taken a similar exam recently, a few years ago, or you may never have taken it. Whichever of these circumstances apply, the course is equally appropriate to you.

The course is aimed at improving and assessing three key skills that will help you throughout your life. These are your abilities in:

Writing

Reading

Speaking and Listening

You will have the chance to write fiction and non-fiction and read a range of factual writing and literature. You will also work on your spoken English where you will be encouraged to develop your ability to discuss and debate a range of topics.

The course is split between coursework (40%) and examinations (60%).

The whole course is completed in one year and

it complements all subjects, courses and situations.

Special entry requirements

You will need:

Commitment to the subject

The ability to meet deadlines

Self-motivation

Plenty of thoughts and opinions.

How you will learn

Through a variety of learning experiences ranging from small group discussion to full class debate, to exam-focused teaching and supervised coursework sessions.

How you will be assessed

There will be four pieces of written coursework assessing both your reading and writing skills. You will be looking at a variety of texts, ranging from a Shakespeare play to modern day media articles.

There will be two examinations that assess your reading and writing skills. You will look at media texts and poetry from other cultures. You will also be asked to write analytically and persuasively.

What the students say

I really enjoyed doing the one-year course, as it was focused and always relevant.

I found the teachers particularly supportive especially during the supervision of coursework.

I thought re-doing GCSE English would be a real chore, but I enjoyed it far more the second time round.

Other useful information

Its a benchmark qualification that most employers and all universities require.

If you have specific skills difficulties i.e. spelling, punctuation, grammar help is available through study support.